Here are 25 bite-sized and finger-food ideas to help make your night a smashing, forkless success. Many are vegan and gluten-free, and as a bonus for the cook many recipes are ready in just five minutes so you can spend more time perfecting your eyeliner and less time in the kitchen. Or if you’re like me on New Years Eve, more time on the couch with my remote control. Dips Double Melted Cheese and Red Pepper Dip (GF) – Make in 5 minutes in microwave
“Cheater’s” Guacamole (veagn, GF) – Make in 5 minutes
Corn and Double Cheese Dip (vegan, GF, serve warm or cold) – Make in 5 minutes
Stovetop Hot Pepper Jelly (vegan, GF) – Ready in an hour, no canning required. Serve over warm brie with crackers. Heavenly
Spinach & Artichoke Dip (vegan, GF, fat-free option, serve warm or cold) – Make in 5 minutes
Appetizers Roasted Grapes and Balsamic Reduction with Cheese and Crackers
Avocado, Cream Cheese, and Salsa-Stuffed Puff Pastries (easy to keep vegan)
Mini Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches
Baked Parsnip Fries with Creamy Balsamic Reduction Dip (vegan, GF)
Tempeh and Cucumbers on a Stick with Brown Sugar Balsamic Reduction Dip (vegan) – Make in 5 minutes
Snacks and Munchies Vanilla Cake Batter and White Chocolate Chip Caramel Corn
Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix – Make in 5 minutes
Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds – (vegan, GF)
Eat Your Booze Baked Eggnog Vanilla Donuts and Mini-Donuts with Eggnog Rum Glaze
Malibu Rum Fruit Loops Treats
Pina Colada Dip (vegan, GF) – Make in 5 minutes
No Bake Rum Cake Balls (vegan, GF) – Make in 5 minutes
Dark Rum Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Chocolate Cinnamon Sugar Chocolate Pretzels (no-bake, vegan, GF) – Make in 5 minutes and one of the best things I made in 2012 on the work-reward scale and my husband begs for these
Nutella Brownie Truffle Bites (no-bake with vegan and GF options) – Make in 5 minutes
Thin Mints (vegan, no-bake) – Make in 5 minutes
Quintuple Chocolate Fudgy Brownie Cookies – The most decadent cookie I’ve ever made or eaten
Quench Your Thirst Bananas Foster Shooters (vegan, GF) – Can be made with or without alcohol
Peach Mango Pineapple White Sangria – A great way to stretch a bottle of wine and serve a crowd
Coconut Water Champagne Fruit Punch (Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free, No Sugar Added)
What are your New Year’s Eve Plans? What do you like to eat at New Years Eve parties? I am happily plan-less and we’ll be staying home. Not in the bars or on the roads sounds like the best kind of NYE to me. I’ll be catching up on laundry, email, and whatever has accumulated on my DVR since I’ve been traveling for a month. I’d prefer to be at home, read cookbooks, and strategize when I’m cooking next. Back in the day, I used to love going out and I still do love champagne but who says I can’t have a glass. On my couch. Feel free to share your favorite recipe links or tell me about your fabulous plans.
